4E Shadowfell

Triggs test posting

Ok, so the Priestess Marla of the Great Church of Pelor in Falcon Crest summoned you all and asked you to check on Winterhaven, she has been receiving visions of a dark cult being active in the region. In addition, I believe it was Valadrim’s mentor who had disappeared in the area as well…

On your way to Winterhaven, you were ambushed by Kobolds. You killed them then continued on to Winterhaven.

In Winterhaven, you met the following people:

Ernest Padraig, the Lord of Winterhaven – is descended from the noble family that ruled the area under edict of the old empire. Folks around Winterhaven were happy with Lord Padraig’s father’s authority, and they have found answering to the rules of the new lord no more arduous. On the other hand, Padraig doesn’t have absolute power. For instance, he was unable to raise a force from among the villagers to deal with the kobold problem on the road.
Padraig commands the Winterhaven Regulars, a core group of ten soldiers who perform guard and police functions in and around the walled portion of the village. The Regulars patrol in pairs. To augment this force, Padraig can muster a group of about fifty civilians, given a day’s notice. However, he can only do this if the village itself is threatened—the villagers have no desire to patrol the road beyond the farms.

Salvana Wrafton: Wrafton’s owner and proprietor is a female human named Salvana Wrafton. She employs several waiters, waitresses, and cooks. Salvana is friendly and open, quick with a smile and a warm welcome.

Eilian the Old: This old farmer is a regular customer at Wrafton’s. Every night, Eilian takes a seat at a table in the corner. He has a farm down in the valley along the Old King’s Road. Eilian has an interest in Winterhaven’s history. He is a good source for local information, and he loves to talk.

Valthrun the Prescient: Valthrun is a sage and scholar who lives in a tower within Winterhaven’s walls. On occasion he shows up in Wrafton’s to socialize. Valthrun is knowledgeable about the area. Valthrun is a good listener, asking just enough questions to keep whomever he speaks with talking.

Ninaran (Deceased – TERMINATED WITH EXTREME PREJUDICE): An Elf Hunter who turned out to be an Agent for Kalarel. She would stay in town and keep an eye out for an adventurers that might interfere with Kalarel’s plans.

Sister Linora, – The temple priest, runs services in the temple three times per week, but otherwise she is not often present. She prefers to travel among the homes outside the walls, dispensing care to villagers and animals and helping with various farm projects

Padraig offered you all 210gp to take care of the kobold problem and pointed out on maps where the lair was. On your way there, you were ambushed again, this time, one fled. You found the kobold caves, with several standing guard outside. You attacked them and killed most but one got away “Irontooth must be warned!!!!!!” he shouted…

After waiting a bit to see if the kobolds would charge out, you all decided to enter the cave…long fight, couple almost died, but everything is good, and you found a note and some treasure “My spy in Winterhaven suggests we keep an eye out for visitors to the area. It probably does not matter; in just a few more days, I’ll completely open the rift. Then Winterhaven’s people will serve as food for all those Lord Orcus sends to do my bidding.”

You then went and found the Dragon Burial site and fought off some more of Kalarel’s band who were trying to find an acient relic to help Kalrel with his ritual. It turns out that Douven Staul had been captured by the death cult and was being forced to help them in their search. Slay all, rescue Douven, who rewarded you with an amulet.

You returned to Winterhaven, with evidence of a spy, but the walls were locked up, and Padraig asked you to check out the cemetery, several villagers had disappeared and skeletons and zombies were rising from their graves. It was there you fought Ninaran the Elf Hunter, and more notes from Kalarel instructing her on how to do a ritual to turn people into zombies….

You went to the keep, and fought your way through the first floor guards left behind. You entered the ancient Crypt and after fighting several zombies and skeletons, you met the Skelton Knight, Sir Keegan, who gave you the real background on the Keep, “I am Sir Keegan. I was commander here in Shadowfell Keep. It was my charge to keep the rift sealed, lest Orcus’s unholy powers once again seep into the world.

“I failed in my responsibility. I allowed the influence of the Shadow Rift and my knowledge of the crumbling empire to distract me from my sworn oath. The corruption that lies on the other side of the rift touched me and triggered disaster.”

“Orcus’s vile taint soaked through the rift and into my dreams. A madness overcame me. I was possessed! In a rage, I drew my sword and slew my wife and children. From that bloody deed I
moved outward, attacking my captains, one by one, killing them even as they stared in shock. I had become a murderous fiend!”

“Finally the alarm went up, and what remained of the legion banded together against me. Even in my rage, I realized I couldn’t best them all, so I fled into the crypts to hide from vengeance.Only then did the madness lift. I realized what I had done and despaired. I had killed my love and broken my oath.
More than that, I had done so with my sword, Aecris, an implement given to me by King Elidyr when I was knighted. “The remnants of my legion sealed the passage and trapped me here. I selected this as a fitting place to spend eternity.”

“I am past redemption. But perhaps I can grant you aid. I cannot leave this crypt, but Aecris can. Perhaps this elegant weapon, unlike me, can be redeemed. I give it to you that you might
purge Shadowfell Keep of those who work to open the rift. Seek Bahamut’s boon at the altars outside and perhaps he too will grant you aid.”

Aecris: This +1 magic longsword (value 1,000 gp) is inlaid with platinum. It has a line of three white diamonds set into the flat of its blade and a pommel carved to resemble the head of a noble dragon. It provides its user with a +1 bonus on attack rolls and damage rolls and deals +1d6 damage on a critical hit.

Bahamut’s Boon were the silver and platinum dragon statues.

You found a secret armory in the keep to rest in as well.

After that, you headed down to the second level of the keep, and fought more guards and traps. You found the resting places of Keegan’s wife and child.

You fought the sub-bosses and the vampire spawn he had, then proceed down the chain into the blood pit to face Kalarel.

In the pit, you fought Kalarel and underlings, as he died, the thing in the portal he was trying to release dragged his corpse away…just the body, sucked it right out of the armor, conveniently enough….

A blog for your campaign

While the wiki is great for organizing your campaign world, it’s not the best way to chronicle your adventures. For that purpose, you need a blog!

The Adventure Log will allow you to chronologically order the happenings of your campaign. It serves as the record of what has passed. After each gaming session, come to the Adventure Log and write up what happened. In time, it will grow into a great story!

Best of all, each Adventure Log post is also a wiki page! You can link back and forth with your wiki, characters, and so forth as you wish.

One final tip: Before you jump in and try to write up the entire history for your campaign, take a deep breath. Rather than spending days writing and getting exhausted, I would suggest writing a quick “Story So Far” with only a summary. Then, get back to gaming! Grow your Adventure Log over time, rather than all at once.